GM SFounder's "Murder in Metal City"

Game Master Chris Marsh

"Do you know how we can get ahold of Vazylyza?"

"Indeed, any help you can get us for 404 would be great. I assume Vazylyza travels in bad circles? Bad enough to be killer?"

"Vazylyza likes to gamble at Magenta Amusement Orbital Plate. I can begin the process for admittance to 404."

Since sandboxes and PbP can often get out of control, you have 3 leads right now: Central Processing where he worked, Magenta for Vazylyza, and 404.

I think maybe Central Processing, then 404?

That works for me!

Upstairs and down the hall from vending services is a small clinic and 6-bed triage center for organic lifeforms. A holo pops up offering free wellness exams and low-cost medical procedures.... There's an exit out to a fast travel stop from here.

Configured into a massive transparent cube that’s brightly illuminated by light-emitting diodes, Insight Array’s Processor is located at the exact center of the Central Circuit district.

Machines bustle inside the transparent walls of the cube, a diorama of clean lines and silence suspended at the center of frenetic halls. Behind the one-way glass is a seamless white box with smooth surfaces lit by warm, soothing light. An overseer machine hangs suspended from a web of tubes and fiber-optic cables, humming mechanically as it silently processes data. Below, an elegant reception desk blocks access to the banks of computers and servers beyond. Niches and nooks in the walls, floor, and ceiling contain workstations for the facility’s laborers—sleek terminals that blend into their surroundings when not in use. There are no drones operating here; instead, the workers communicate with one another electronically and handle intraoffice deliveries manually....

Before you can choose a path or approach, a nervous looking lashunta approaches you, "I'm sorry, terribly sorry. The Processor is not open to tourists."

"Hey Nervous Nelly!" Vorza remarks with impatience. "Do I look like a tourist to you?!"

"Yeah, this would be an awful place for tourism," Jaedana points out. "So clearly we're not tourists and it's fine we're here."

Lunar-17 gives a slightly vacant smile. "We have important research to do here."

Nitpick's expression twitches slightly.

"Don't mind us."

"Ohhhh ummm... I'm sorry. Umm... well.... okay?"

Hesop fidgets a bit before speaking up, "well do you need assistance with your Insight Array app?"

[b]"No, we're actually looking for someone who invited us to meet him here: Prof Tiery?"[b/] Jaedana responds.

"..but can you tell me about the app as well? Are people having problems with it?"

"Ah no. It's not that people are having trouble, you just can't access anything here without it."

Hesop turns to Jaedana, "Ah yes. This is an ongoing investigation, yes? Fresh, yes? I can send you the current files on the investigation per FOIA-2234. I'll walk you through access."

Only the official app can open the files. It's a government app, so it comes with all the perks - and drawbacks of - such a thing. Let me know who of you downloads it.

Definitely not Nitpick! Letting the government on your phone sounds like a terrible idea ;-)

"Yahhh. I can use some help with the app. Go ahead and let's download it."

Vorza relunctantly puts the app on his comm device, but immediately wonders if he needs to pick up a second comm device that does not have the government app on it.

Vozra downloads the app without an issue. Hesop quickly drops in the public-facing update on Tierny. "Is there something specific I can help you with that you'd like to know?"

Having the app and getting this update, as well as making contact with Hesop is worth 30 XP.

"What's that memorial all about?" Jaedana asks.

"And what do you mean recycled?"

Vorza quickly checks through the app on his device and looks for useful information.

"Societies that simply toss their resources do them injustice. There is nothing inherent in his metals that is his. Have you noticed how little mining is done on this world despite how many of its inhabitants are synthetic? Anacite Death Customs make sense to them."

Vorza starts searching and hits upon something that seems quite relevent, Tierny's search history. Tier-99-Professor asked Insight Array about the following topics: biometric lock malfunction, Polytechnica security protocols, Preluria, and Akiton wreck. Tierny also ran searches for information about two individuals: “Vazylyza” and “Zirem.”

"Who's Zirem?" Jaedana asks Vorza. "And what's Preluria?"

Vazylyza’s public record shows she registered as a visitor to Striving two months ago. According to her infosphere social pages, she lives in a trendy upgrid neighborhood. She posts frequent updates featuring photos of food, fashion, and scenery she’s enjoying.

The name “Zirem” is a dead end. No formal records are associated with the name.

Suddenly, leads are adding up...

I suppose we should go find this Vazylyza.

Not a "lead per se, but he did search for the Akitonian Wreck; you can learn more searching via Computers or asking around. Also, getting the handout for Tierny's queries earns 20 XP.

Additionally, Vorza does learn about the app a bit.

Right after Wildfire offers an idea, everyone other than Vorza gets a ping on their comm. It is requesting that you install the app. Society check may help.

Nitpick recoils at the very notion of installing a third-party app on his comm unit.

"I think the Akashic Record is enough connection for me."

Lunar-17 does not install the app either.

Wildfire only got a comm unit a few years ago (at the professor's insistence), and neither knows nor cares to install an app (whatever that is).

"Are you all afraid to download the app? Strangely, it does look useful. I think you can shut down all of the advertisements in the system menu."

Vorza shares with the others all that he has found with the app.

Just as Vozra pokes around, a new menu pops up.

Hesop chimes in, "Your request for 404 access has been submitted. It will likely be approved in 5-7 days. Is there anything else I can help you with?"

Jaedana shakes her head. Then shrugs and decides to download the app. If Vorza thinks it's useful, she's willing to try. She can always get a new one if she has to.

"Hey, look at this. I can't get paid 20 credits to work a shift doing infrastructure repair. The pay is not bad (for honest work). You should definitely check out this app. The benefits are starting to outweigh the negatives."

Which brings us to some squishy time tracking. You do possess the ability to take some time. The 404 request lead time is measured in days. That being said, I'm perfectly ready and willing to let you break in. You also have a lead on Magenta. The party can tell me how you'd like to spend some downtime.

Society 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

Tapkey shares "Striving is run as if it's a program. Every creature must have its place. This may be seen as "plugging in" to the culture and earning everything from credits to clout.... but the downside is you are plugged in. If you don't you'll maintain more anonymity, but you'll be less engaged. You will be a bad citizen."

Tapkey downloads the app too!

"Don't suppose ths 'shift' is another clue?"

Nitpick shakes his head vigorously.

"There is a difference of opinion on that. The proliferation of data results in far less privacy. This place is... acceptable to live in, true, but it is still far from a utopia. Look at what happened to the Professor..."

Nitpick stands firm, but Tapkey immediately gets a ping in the app.

Thoughts on next action? No pressure form me. We're new to SF2, but you're all expert players. Earn cash for buying, break in, or follow up another lead?

I think that spoiler was meant for Tapkey ;-)

I think that spoiler was meant for Tapkey ;-)

Indeed. That's what I get whilst posting in a VTT game!

Wildfire shrugs several of their vines. Not looking to be a part of the machine. I'm just here because the professor asked. Let's go do something productive while we wait.

Since sandboxes and PbP can often get out of control, you have 3 leads right now: Central Processing where he worked, Magenta for Vazylyza, and 404.

"Maybe we should check Magenta whilst we wait?"

"Yes, let us speak to Vazylyza."

In agreement, the group decides to head to Magenta. This smooth slab of oily steel shimmers with a sheen of colorful light as it glides through the air, its colossal face cutting through the haze like the prow of a mammoth barge.

High rollers and thrill seekers shackled to the wheels, tables, and arcades of this massive amusement complex test their luck at all hours of the day and night as the neon casino glides over Striving. Sleek VIP shuttles and bulky hoverbuses ferry patrons up to a docking platform, where grand archways open into a wonderland of thrills and material excess.

Welcome to Magenta. Now what?

"It is really tempting to spend some money and time at the slots, but I think we need to focus on finding Vazylyza."

Vorza uses his comm unit to find an image of Vazylyza to help find the gambler. Once the picture is on his unit, he looks for distinguishing features to memorize. Finally, he gives the nod that he is ready to check out Magenta and find Vazylyza.

Vorza starts with a passive approach downloading an image, and looking around to see if she's on the main floor. Perception check for this approach

Vorza doesn't see anyone matching her, and she is pretty distinctive.

"Whoa, shiny!" Jaedana exclaims as she looks around with wide eyes.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

"I hope we get a chance to spend some credits here before we go..."